The co-owner of the Midtown Tavern and Lounge next door to the Metro Centre says fans are lining up at bars and restaurants well before the gates open at 6 p.m. on game nights.

“I would expect with the holiday Friday and people being off on Saturday, I’m going to say 3:30 they’ll be coming to get their table at gettin’ at it.” Eric Grant said, adding that business picks up again later in the evening.

After the game gets over around 9:30 the place packs back in again,” he said.

The Mooseheads will host the Val D’Or Foreurs in Games 1 and 2 of the QMJHL playoffs on Friday and Saturday.

This will be the third-straight season Halifax has advanced to the league semifinals.

Grant said fans are a little more thirsty than normal during the postseason.

“I’d say we sell an extra three to four kegs a night,” he said.

Scott Ferguson, the president and CEO of Trade Centre Limited, also said fans are spending more money and making a special event out of each game.

“I think when it moves into the event mode which is when the playoffs are happening, than they’re making a far bigger deal of it.” Ferguson said.

The Mooseheads were able to sell-out the Metro Centre in the final two rounds of the QMJHL playoffs last season, but so far this spring the average attendance is 8,782.

As of Wednesday afternoon tickets for the weekend games were not sold-out, but limited seats remained.

“It’s a pretty exciting time for us and for the downtown core because not only is the building filled, but they are spending a lot more money on hot dogs and hamburgers and beer and popcorn,” Ferguson said.

“We’ll go through 2,000 bags (of popcorn) per game to give you an idea.”

Expect those beer and popcorn sales to continue, because Jonathan Drouin and company don’t show any signs of slowing down. The Herd took care of Gatineau in five games and opened the playoffs by sweeping Charlottetown in four straight.